Postcards:
Hopper flight at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic
(posted 7/6/2004)

Introduction

A Cloudhopper
is a single-person hot-air balloon. There is no basket: the pilot
wears a harness that is attached to the balloon, with a fuel tank and
burner situated behind him or her. Compared to conventional hot-air
balloons, cloudhoppers are very maneuverable and can land in relatively
small areas; they are also very easy to store and transport between flights.
In addition to enjoying the perfect, totally unobstructed view from thousands
of feet up, the cloudhopper pilot can also kick his or her feet in the
tree-tops, or go "moon-walking" through open fields in huge,
forty-foot jumps. Cloudhoppers have been around for several decades, but
are still fairly rare in the United States.

A Note on Terminology

We use the term "Cloudhopper" generically here -- it's what
the earliest systems of this type were called, and is the name still used
by several manufacturers. Generically, we're talking about small,
solo, degondolized (basketless) hot-air balloons. The term "hang
balloon" is also sometimes used -- which is not particularly descriptive
(all balloons carry payload "hanging" from the envelope) and
sounds like some form of capital punishment. Anyway, we use the
term "Cloudhopper" in an enlightened, inclusive way -- if you
fly a small balloon without a basket, consider yourself included!

About this Site

This site was established to serve three main audiences: Cloudhopper
pilots, other balloonists interested in Cloudhoppers, and the general
public. We've tried to provide material appropriate to all three
audiences, although balloonists will find some of the general FAQs very
basic, and non-balloonists may find some of the terminology and discussion
somewhat obscure.

The site is updated every few months, particularly the "Sightings",
"Gallery" and "Postcards" sections. Updates
are noted on this home page.

If you're a Cloudhopper pilot, please get in touch with us! We'd
like to have your picture for the Sightings page, and include you on the
e-mailing list for future Cloudhopper events.